Case Study: Sally Denning

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AGA eR7 150 in Pewter

Sally Denning and her family moved into their Cotswold farmhouse just before the pandemic. They didn’t begin any major work until after the lockdowns ended, which gave them the opportunity to live in the space before deciding how they wanted it to feel.

Sally works as a stylist and art director, overseeing interiors photography for brands such as Little Greene, Colefax, Neptune and The White Company. These skills served her well aesthetically when it came to the look and feel of the house.AGA eR7 150 and Buster the black labrador

It is beautiful, with a timeless feeling, and while every aspect is aesthetically perfect it feels nothing like a show home. Instead, it is a calm, serene and gorgeous space. 

“I didn’t plan the interiors with photography in mind exactly,” Sally says, “but after so many years of working as a stylist I think it went that way by default. 

“When I’m decorating, I’ll think, ‘that’s a really nice angle’ simply because my brain’s wired that way. I’m not an interior designer but I have a deep understanding of colour and how to put things together because I’m constantly doing that in big set designs.”

When Sally, her husband, Rich, their children Fred (16) and Billy (14), and Buster the Labrador moved in, the kitchen was a “horrible 1980s monstrosity”. Whenever it rained, the water came in. “Usually at night, and I’d be mopping up for three hours,” Sally adds. 

The new kitchen was designed by Kelmscott Studio, an interior design business based in Stroud. The company specialises in space planning and joinery. 

“We wanted the kitchen to look as if it had always been here,” Sally says. “The house isn’t listed, but it has heritage, and we had a real desire to respect that. We wanted the kitchen to be classic and well-made. Of course, we wanted all the mod cons, but in a traditional setting. The floor really helps with that because it feels as if it has been here forever.”

The paint colours are all by Little Greene, with walls in Clay and the cabinetry painted in Invisible Green. 

“I do this day in and day out,” Sally says, “but when it came to doing the house I must have gone through 50 paint swatches to find the perfect beige wall!” 

The wall lights are from Original BTC and the semi-pendant light is by GUBI. The floor is from Frome Reclamation Yard and originally came from one property, meaning it offers a really cohesive feel. The tiles in front of the AGA cooker are Welsh slate. Every hearth in the house uses the same tiles, and Sally was keen for the AGA to tie in with this. 

AGA eR7 in Pewter in beautiful traditional kitchenThe fabric for the sink skirt is from Merchant and Mills and was made by Jeanne Laine a “brilliant seamstress” Sally uses on shoots.

There was an old green oil AGA cooker in the kitchen when the family moved in, but they were keen to replace it. 

“We wanted one that was better for the environment. We’ve tried to reuse as much as we can and have only bought new where we have to. We wanted an electric AGA for sustainability and the lower impact it has. It’s important to me and Rich to make sure we’re not causing more problems in the world.

“We’ve chosen Little Greene paint as it’s one of the most environmentally sound paints around. We’ve gone for reclaimed materials where we can because it just makes sense to us on a personal and wider level. We still have an oil boiler, but we use it very little as the AGA also heats the room. We have no radiators in the kitchen.”

When it came to the new AGA, functionality was all-important to Sally, so she chose an AGA eR7 150 in Pewter. It has three cast-iron heat-storage ovens for roasting, baking and simmering and two additional independently controllable ovens for slow-cooking and warming. The roasting and baking ovens have additional pre-set temperatures, making the cooker very versatile. 

This model also features two fast-heat-up hotplates and a state-of-the-art induction hob. And the eR7 programmer can be used to conserve energy overnight or when the cooker isn’t needed, meaning reduced running costs.

Sally adds: “I tend to program the AGA. I was worried about the lack of instant heat when we got it, but I am amazed by how quickly everything heats up. The kids say, ‘we want toasted sandwiches’ when their mates are round, and within 10 minutes the hotplates are ready. By the time they’ve put the sandwich together, the hotplate is ready.”

“I use the simmering oven a lot. I put something in overnight and then have supper for the next evening. It makes me feel completely smug,” she laughs.AGA eR7 150 Pewter

The induction hob is the family’s everyday go-to, especially for the kids. “I’m naturally more of an oven cook,” Sally says. “We eat a lot of fish and a bit of meat and I like roasted vegetables very much”. When the kids are starving, I’ll do something quick and hob-based. I do a lot of cooking for people, and I love to prepare things in advance and then leave them in the warming oven.

“I can’t imagine not having an AGA. When we were in our temporary kitchen even the kids would say, ‘We can’t wait to have the AGA back’. It’s the focus of the kitchen and the hub of the home. Whenever people come round they go straight to the AGA and stand there. I love it. If you were to come into a house like this and there was no AGA, you’d be disappointed.”

Sally took some time to decide on the colour of her AGA. “I knew I wanted a green kitchen, and the more colourful AGA cookers just weren’t quite the right shade. I knew we’d never tire of Pewter.”

She’s right – the colour works brilliantly in the kitchen, which has a timeless, almost painterly feel. All in all it really is the perfect family home.